Lambert and I, and many readers, agree that Ukraine has prompted the worst informational environment ever. We hope readers will collaborate in mitigating the fog of war — both real fog and stage fog — in comments. None of us need more cheerleading and link-free repetition of memes; there are platforms for that. Low-value, link-free pom pom-wavers will be summarily whacked.
And for those who are new here, this is not a mere polite request. We have written site Policies and those who comment have accepted those terms. To prevent having to resort to the nuclear option of shutting comments down entirely until more sanity prevails, as we did during the 2015 Greek bailout negotiations and shortly after the 2020 election, we are going to be ruthless about moderating and blacklisting offenders.
–Yves
P.S. Also, before further stressing our already stressed moderators, read our site policies:
Please do not write us to ask why a comment has not appeared. We do not have the bandwidth to investigate and reply. Using the comments section to complain about moderation decisions/tripwires earns that commenter troll points. Please don’t do it. Those comments will also be removed if we encounter them.
Pups get wet and wild at California’s World Dog Surfing championships ABC.net.au (furzy)
Do Spiders Dream? A New Study Suggests They Just Might Wall Street Journal
‘She is a legend’: Calif. fire lookout, 73, dies in McKinney Fire SFGate (Kevin W)
As Satellites and Space Junk Proliferate, US to Revise Rules Reuters
The Disappearing Modernists American Scholar (Anthony L)
20 Best Jewish Delis In The US Tasting Table (David L). News you can use!
#COVID-19
The WTO and Vaccinations: Greed and Profits Win CADTM (Micael T)
US
The Anti-Vaccine Movement’s New Frontier New York Times (resilc)
From this study, via Barry Ritholtz (and resilc)
Monkeypox
Dr. Alexandra Brugler Yonts (infectious disease specialist) said, “Anywhere that close physical, skin-to-skin contact occurs—particularly of people who are in various stages of undress—there is risk (of infection to mokeypox),” incl. pools and waterparks.https://t.co/hwMfEn4tqf
— Hiroshi Yasuda (保田浩志) (@Yash25571056) August 8, 2022
Climate/Environment
The US-China Rift Moves Climate Politics Into an Era of Competition Bloomberg
Iraq broils in dangerous 120-degree heat as power grid shuts down Seattle Times
Torrents drench Denver as Death Valley recovers from 1,000-year deluge Washington Post (David L)
China?
How China and the US Threaten Each Other Antiwar.com. Kevin W: “I have read articles by Charles Freeman before and he is nobody’s fool.”
Taiwan Says China Economic Ties Make More Sanctions Unlikely Bloomberg. Erm, not if Taiwan keeps going along with US provocations. This “they aren’t serious about their red lines” thinking is what got us Ukraine.
The Real Estate and Banking Crisis in China Is Spreading to Other Aspects of the Chinese Economy Modern Diplomacy
India
India’s Rocket Fails To Put Satellites In Right Orbit In Debut Launch Space
Old Blighty
Italy’s Right-Wing Coalition Gains Ground After Center-Left Spat Bloomberg
New Not-So-Cold War
Nuclear plant in Ukraine is shelled, with Russia warning of ‘catastrophic’ consequences 9News (Kevin W)
Russia Suspends Bilateral Inspections in Nuclear Weapons Treaty BioClandestine (Chuck L)
Russia launches Iranian satellite amid Ukraine war spying concerns Middle East Eye
* * * First North Korean builders will come to DPR in the near future RIA Novosti. Resilc noted earlier that he’d seen, as he put it, NoKo construction workers in Moscow.
* * * CBS CAUGHT Editing Report On Arms Proliferation In Ukraine Krystal and Saagar
Why military aid in Ukraine may not always get to the front lines CBS
The “Editor’s note” up top:
Editor’s note: This article has been updated to reflect changes since the CBS Reports documentary “Arming Ukraine” was filmed, and the documentary is also being updated. Jonas Ohman says the delivery has significantly improved since filming with CBS in late April. The government of Ukraine notes that U.S. defense attaché Brigadier General Garrick M. Harmon arrived in Kyiv in August 2022 for arms control and monitoring.
Lambert adds: “‘Arrived’ is past tense, but this is August 8, so WTF?”
The list of fertilizer and chemical plants shutting down or rationing in the EU is impressive. With these gas prices, the list will grow.
According to @ICISOfficial, around 40% of urea production may have been cut in EU.
Despite a possible recession, food prices will increase. pic.twitter.com/lCmq86YnT2— Francesco Sassi (@Frank_Stones) August 7, 2022
Ukraine Grain Onboard Razoni Cargo Ship Rejected by Lebanon Buyer Bloomberg (furzy)
Will Pope Francis visit Ukraine? A September trip is possible. America Magazine (Bob K)
* * * Germany braces for social unrest over energy prices DW
Western sanctions are good for Moscow – US economist RT. Michael Hudson!
Syraqistan
Israeli general, a Harvard fellow, extols Gaza onslaught as ‘really clean’ and ‘very nice’ Mondoweiss. Um, you can’t even say that of Temple Grandin human cattle slaughter methods.
Imperial Collapse Watch
When Will Foreign Leaders Start Asking To Speak To America’s REAL Government? Caitlin Johnstone (Kevin W). Nice shout out to NC!
US Military Has a Recruitment and Retention Problem. Here’s How to Fix It Bloomberg
Global War On Terrorism Service Medal Full Size (GWOT): Clothing, Shoes & Jewelry Amazon (resilc)
Trump
FBI executes search warrant at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago CNN
Live: Agents broke into safe during Mar-a-Lago search – Trump BBC. Live blog is very unusual for BBC. Lambert says this smacks of coordination, yet the subheads don’t sound very good for the officialdom: “FBI ‘left with very little’ – anonymous Trump source tells CBS” and “No FBI search like this in US history – state attorney”
We won’t know how fully insane the FBI raid on Trump is until we see the warrant and warrant application. But after Russiagate – years of investigation predicated largely on Clinton campaign misinformation — if the basis for this isn’t bedrock-solid, there should be hell to pay.
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) August 9, 2022
BTW, for those claiming that a violation of law regarding classified documents would prevent Trump from running, nope — the statutory penalties for any such violation do not overcome the Constitution definition of qualifications for eligibility.
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) August 9, 2022
Horde of Trump supporters descends on Mar-a-Lago in the hours following shock FBI raid Daily Mail (resilc). I don’t know how common this reaction will be, since NC readers are very independent-minded. But one I know personally, who was a Sandernista, called to sputter abut the Trump raid. While she underscored her strong dislike of Trump, she said this was so outrageous that it could lead her to rethink her position.
Republicans rail against the FBI search of Mar-a-Lago, calling for the FBI to be destroyed and defunded Business Insider. So much for trying to make Trump toxic among the Rs. All that good work of the 1/6 committee goes poof.
Inside the War Between Trump and His Generals New Yorker (furzy)
Biden
The Left Case Against Supporting Joe Biden in the General Election: A Biden Administration Will Create a Whole New Generation of Bad Democrats Benjamin Studebaker (spud)
GOP Clown Car
In Wisconsin Primary, G.O.P. Voters Call for Decertifying 2020 Election New York Times
Democrats en déshabillé
What the Hell is Wrong With Them’: GOP Senators Kill $35 Cap on Insulin Common Dreams (furzy)
Abortion
Abortion bans complicate access to drugs for cancer, arthritis, even ulcers Washington Post
Black Injustice Tipping Point
Seattle ‘Karen’ Calls Cops on Black Man for Standing on His Own Property The Root (furzy)
Viral Video Of Black Man’s Violent Arrest In Mississippi Sparks Investigation Associated Press
Our No Longer Free Press
“We Can’t Let Them Do This”: Interview With Russell Brand Matt Taibbi. Brand is terrific.
Woke Watch
How Tavistock Came Tumbling Down Common Sense (furzy)
Keira Bell: My Story Persuasion (furzy)
Researchers warn bachelorette parties in Provincetown are destroying LGBTQ+ safe spaces Boston.com (Paul R)
Supply Chain/Inflation
Germany: Meat production in the first half of 2022 fell by 7.9% compared to the previous year Tridge
Home Inventory Soars at Record Rate With US Buyers Pulling Back Bloomberg. That was fast.
The ‘Best Time to Buy a New Car’ No Longer Exists Jalopnik (resilc)
Class Warfare
Despite impressive job growth, labor market slack remains.
The employment level continues to flatline (total and prime age)https://t.co/g95a21xw6G pic.twitter.com/wRtDI8CWJe— Pavlina R Tcherneva (@ptcherneva) August 8, 2022
Why some nurses are becoming cosmetic injectors. Slate (resilc). Old trend becoming more acute. Most derms are in the business of vanity, which pays better than treating acne, burns, and skin cancer. And even better, no insurance hassle for cosmetic procedures.
Antidote du jour. EKV:
This little beauty was stalking my breakfast last week in downtown Istanbul. It was quite obviously aware of its star power and was almost impossible to resist. And if I hadn’t complied on my own by giving it a nice chunk of cheese, it would have just raided my table anyway.
And a bonus (dk):
Peek-a-boo.. 😂 pic.twitter.com/ABw5vvCuaQ
— Buitengebieden (@buitengebieden) August 7, 2022
Another bonus:
And somehow Rose could not share the door with Jack. pic.twitter.com/BIEDwh3YT8
— Danny Deraney (@DannyDeraney) August 8, 2022
See yesterday’s Links and Antidote du Jour here.
